Antique Silver Mounted Oak Desk Wax Seal 1813

Seal Detail

A silver mounted antique oak desk wax seal with hallmarked silver matrix, well engraved with image of a tree and the inscription reading:

Ceubren yr Ellyll (The Hollow Tree of The Demon) 

The silver mount is hallmarked London 1817 together with the maker's mark T.P, I.P, within a shaped cartouche, probably for Thomas & James Phipps II.

Made from the oak tree on Tynyllyn, the estate of Sir Robert Williams Vaughan of Nannau, Merioneth, in which Owain Glyndwr reputedly entombed Howel Sele in 1400.  According to the legend, in the early 15th century, Hywel Sele, 8th Lord of Nannau, a loyal supporter of Henry IV, was a bitter enemy of his rebel cousin Owain Glyndwr.  While out hunting together at Nannau, Owain killed Hywel and concealed his body in a hollow oak where it remained undiscovered for 40 years.  An oak tree linked to this legend blew down in a fearful gale at Nannau on the 28th July 1813, hence the date on this seal.

Seal Specification

Height 88mm (3.46")

Diameter of matrix  21mm (0.82")

Weight 26g (0.91oz)